Race Rights

If Obama wins, what are people who are fond of the phrase, "...it's because I'm/he's/she's black," going to say?

Gone are the arguments of inferiority, both of ability and opportunity. Gone are the accusations that a black man can't get a fair shake in America, or that a black man is too lazy to do any real work. All of that is just gone.

That, however does not mean that racism is dead in America. I've seen first hand and experienced myself racial discrimination. I've seen African American professionals, people with serious educations making serious, serious money argue that they suffer from lack of opportunity. And I've heard Caucasian Americans brand African Americans with Ivy-League educations and more than thirty years of accomplishments and historic accolades as stupid. I have seen it up close and in person. And it's always breath takingly shocking.

But now we face the possibility that we will have our first African American president. Admittedly Obama has led a life of privileged opportunity that most African Americans can't even dream of, but that's true of Americans of any race. And I guarantee you that Obama has faced racism far more insidious and hateful than most African Americans in this country, because it was probably delivered with a smile from people who knew exactly what they were doing. The racism he's faced is born, not of ignorance, but of hatred.

An Obama presidency can't help but shine a bright light on racism and the responsibility of people of every race. The truth is, there are African Americans who profit by promoting the idea that white people are devils, and there are white people doing stupid, hateful things that make that theory difficult to disprove.

Still, in an overwhelmingly white country, a black man has become a serious contender for the presidency. The ramifications of that reality echo throughout this country and will echo throughout history. And whether Obama wins or loses the presidency, the phrase, "because he's black," will sound just a little bit more idiotic.